Truck



Nov. 22, 1932. v w. P. KELLETTQ TRUCK Filed July "N 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet IIHIIIIIIII M n n km Z I P \v m 1. w 4 m Nov. 22, 1932. w. P. KELLE'I T TRUCK Filed July 7, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I T 5 Inventor. I r Will/am P/ahs/(e/le/f.

Patented Nov. 22 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICFEZF'FV WILLIAM rLAr'rs KnLLnrnornnw You; N.

'rnucx Application filed July 7, 1930. Serial No. 466,143.

30 with this invention;

The principal objects of this invention are, to improve the means for elevating the movable platform of atruck which is adaptedto be raised or lowered to difierentelevations,

- and to provide an arrangement of lifting mechanism which will'enable the operation of the platform mechanism without the necesanism at each end of an elevating truck, such 1 2 as is disclosed in my co-pending application, Serial Number 337,414 filed February 4th, 1929 for freight handling trucks which has eventuated into Patent No. 1,838,842, dated Dec. 29, 1931, and further in the provision of means for supplying power tosuch elevating means.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a plan view of the mechanism arranged at one end of a truckconstructed in accordance Figure 2 is a side elevational view of-the mechanism shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a plan view on a reduced scale showing diagrammatically a possible arrangement of the tractor and trailer portion of the device. a v Figure 4 is a plan detail showing amodlfied arrangement of means for operating the toggle device for lifting the platform.

Figure 5 is a diagrammatic view illustrating in greater detail a suitable switching means for the selected control of the motor for operating and accurately positioning the movable platform. I

In my previous application]: have disclosed a structure in which a platform. is mounted upon elevating mechanisms supported at each end of the body or fixed frame of a truck or trailer, and the operating toggle members are'manipulated by threaded shafts .right-handmotor 15 isrequired in operation mounted in journal bearings on the sides of the-truck frame. a f V These shafts are operated by-shaftscom nected by suitable gearing with transverse shaftswhich in turn are operated through V a change gear mechanism driven from a longitudinal shaft whichis connected with "the engine of thetractor or truck mechanism.

. The present invention contemplates the elimination of the centralized change gear 6 mechanism operated from the longitudinal '1 shaft driven from the tractor motor. In. the present invention the" threaded shafts 1 :j ournalled in the bearings 2'and 3at V 7 each side and end of the truck frame thave connected thereto preferably through flexible couplings 5 the sliortshafts 6 Whichare journalled in bearing brackets 7.

Each of the shafts 6 has mounted on the free end a bevelled pinion 8 which meshes with a pinion 9 mounted one on each end ofthe cross shaft 10 journalledin the framel. Upon the cross shaft 10 and preferably arranged within an enclosing casing 11 is a Worm. wheel 12 and the worm wheelis en- 5 gaged by the worm 13 mounted on .the shaft 1a of the electric motor 15 which is suitably supported on theframe of the truck. This motor is of course of the reversible type. a This arrangement of mechanismis duplilcated for each end of the truck and by a suitable arrangement ofswitches-18 and wiring 18", the motors, can be controlled at will, Y

either to act in unison or to act separately .for the purpose ofraisi'ngthe platform equal-f -ly at both ends, or at either end, as may be desired. 7

With this construction of control mech-' anism the necessary power for, operating the On reference to the showing of Figure 5,;it 9 7 will be observed that if it desired to operate the left-hand motor 15, this maybe ac complished by pressing in .on left-hand switch contact 18. Similarly if on'ly "the this may be achieved by pressing in on righthand'switch contact 18.

loading and unloading conditions encoun- 1 tered is greatly facilitated. V a

With this arrangement-it will beiseen that the trailer can be backed into place with the tractor disposed in a right angular position in relation, thereto and the power will be carried from the generator unit to the switches and individual motor controls many mechanical difficulties and materially through a'suitable flexible cable 18.

"A structure such as described eliminates reduces the troubles incident-to the twisting Y and racking of the car frame in its travel a mechanic and need n'otbe shown. 40

over the roads." k c The operation of the motors 15 t-hrough'the worm and: worm wheel drive operates the short'shafts flexibly connected with the right 3 :7, and left hand threaded shafts which operate '30 the toggles for lifting the platform. This maybe installed at each end of the truck as closely coupled as possible, or in some cases it maybe found desirable to use a central motor and to operate either or both of the V elevating mechanisms therefrom.

The arrangement of shafts andcoupling members necessary to accomplish the result would-be within the purview of the ordinary It may be found desirable to eliminate the cross shafts 10 and operate the threaded shafts by direct motor drive, as illustrated in Figure 4 in which worm wheels 19 are mounted directly upon the ends of the" threaded toggle shafts and individual electric motors .ZO mounted on the frame are provided with worms 21 meshing withthe wheels 19.-- The control of the pairs-of motors will be quite I simple and maybe carried out in the manner illustrated in F igurea5 by connecting a pair'of motors to each of the wires 18in place of the single motors there shown to control them to operate them inpairs orall in unison.

It will be readily understood that with the use of reversible electric motors the operation .of the platform may be conducted with the greatest ease, it being merely necessary to operate the controlswitch to put either or both motors into operation with forward or reverse movement in accordance, with the movement of the platform required;

eliminates all the complicated mechanism and control devices of a control gear box.

This

What I claim as my inventionis'; 1;In a truck'hav-ing a rigid frame, a pair frame relative to the rigid truck frame. 7;

of parallelly arranged right and left hand threaded shafts journalled in said frame at each end thereof, toggle members operatively I mounted on each of said shafts, a platform carried by said toggle members, cross shafts I journalled transversely of said frame and each operatively connected at its ends with one of said threaded shafts, a worm wheel secured to each of said cross shafts, electric motors having a worm shaft operatively engaging said worm wheels, means for supplying power to said motors, and means for cona trolling the operation thereof. 7

2. In a truck, thecombination of a rigid frame having a movable frame superposed 8 0 control means directing power from said 99 source to said power units collectively or individually to control respectively the elevation and angular disposition of said superposed frame relative to the rigid truck frame;

3. In a truck, the combination ofa rigid frame'having afmovable frame superposed thereabove and means'at the respective ends v of the frame to 'be' operated to selectively raise and lower the ends of the superposed frame relative to the rigid frame, said means 19 rigidly securing said superposed *frame against longitudinal thrusts in? any; position to which theframe ismoved, electric power units connected one to each of saidraising and lowering means, a source of electric lm disposition of said superposed frame relative ,110 7 to the rigidtruckframe, I 7 n V n V 4:. In a truck, the comb'nation'of arigid frame havingamovable frame superposed thereabove, toggle members mounted at, each endofthe frame to be operated to selectivelyfv1115, raise and lower the ends of the superposed frame, said toggle means'being disposed longitudinally of the truck frame and rigidly bracing the superposed frame against longitudinal'thrustsin any position to which the'1120 'latt'eris moved, threaded shafts mounted at the respective ends of the rigidframe for actuating-said togglemeans, electric motors connected with the respectiveshaftsto; operate same, and means for directing current to I said motors collectively or individually to operate the toggle means at each end of the truck to respectively 'controlthe elevation and angular disposition. of said superposed iso I 5. In a truck, the combination of a rigid frame having a movable frame superposed thereabove, toggle members mounted at each end of the frame to be operated to selectively raise and lower the ends of the superposed frame, said toggle means being disposed longitudinally of the truck frame and rigidly I bracing the superposed frame against longitudinal thrusts in any position to which the latter is moved, a pair of threaded shafts mounted at each end of the rigid truck frame and each operating one of said toggle means, an electric power unit operatively coupled with each pair of threaded shafts, and switch means operable to direct current to said elec 7 i said trailer having a movable platform superposed thereabove, separate means at each end of said trailer to be operated to raise and lower said platform, said means acting to rigidly brace said platform against longitudinal thrusts in any of its adjusted positions, electric motors operatively connected respectively one with each of said separate raising and lowering means, an electric generator carried by said tractor, flexible cables connected with said generator and extending between said tractor and trailer, and a controlling switch mounted on said trailer and connected with said cables and operable to direct current therefrom to said respective motors collectively or individually to control respectively the elevation and angular relation of said superposed platform relative to the main frame of the trailer.

WILLIAM PLATIS KELLETT. 

